U.S. patent application number 11/566238 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for driving module utilized for driving a print head maintenance station.
Invention is credited to Chi-Chun Lee.
Application Number | 20070222813 11/566238 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38566295 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070222813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Chi-Chun |
September 27, 2007 |
DRIVING MODULE UTILIZED FOR DRIVING A PRINT HEAD MAINTENANCE
STATION
Abstract
A driving module utilized for driving a print head maintenance
station. The print head maintenance station includes a capper and a
wiper. The driving module includes: a first rotation unit having a
first surface corresponding to a first profile; a second rotation
unit having a second surface corresponding to a second profile; a
first connection module for moving the capper according to the
first profile of the first rotation unit; a second connection
module for moving the wiper according to the second profile of the
second rotation unit; a transfer module coupled to the first
connection module and the second connection module; and a motor
coupled to the transfer module for driving the first and second
rotation units to rotate simultaneously according to the transfer
module.
Inventors: |
Lee; Chi-Chun; (Yun-Lin
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORTH AMERICA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 506
MERRIFIELD
VA
22116
US
|
Family ID: |
38566295 |
Appl. No.: |
11/566238 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 2/165 20130101;
B41J 23/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/29 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/165 20060101
B41J002/165 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 21, 2006 |
TW |
095109714 |
Claims
1. A driving module for driving a print head maintenance station,
the print head maintenance station comprising a capper and a wiper,
the driving module comprising: a first rotating unit containing a
first profile; a second rotating unit containing a second profile;
a first supportive component coupled to the first rotating unit and
the capper for driving the capper according to the first profile of
the first rotating unit; a second supportive component coupled to
the second rotating unit and the wiper for driving the wiper
according to the second profile of the second rotating unit; a
transfer module coupled to the first, and the second rotating
units; and a motor coupled to the transfer module for providing a
single power source to drive the first, and the second rotating
units simultaneously to rotate through the transfer module.
2. The driving module of claim 1, wherein the transfer module
comprising: a first gear set coupled to the motor, the first gear
set comprising a plurality of gears; and a shaft; wherein at least
a gear, the first rotating unit, and the second rotating unit are
set on the shaft.
3. The driving module of claim 1, wherein the transfer module
comprising: a second gear set coupled to the motor, the second gear
set comprising a first gear and a second gear; a first shaft,
wherein the first gear and the first rotating unit are set on the
first shaft; and a second shaft, wherein the second gear and the
second rotating unit are set on the second shaft.
4. The driving module of claim 1, wherein the first, and the second
rotating units are cams.
5. The driving module of claim 1, wherein the second profile is a
radius direction surface of the second rotating unit for forcing
the second supportive component to drive the wiper moving along a
first direction, and a shaft direction surface of the second
rotating unit containing a protruding part or a concave part for
forcing the second supportive component to drive the wiper moving
along a second direction.
6. The driving module of claim 5, wherein the first direction is
vertical respective to the second direction.
7. The driving module of claim 1, wherein the print head
maintenance station is applied in an inkjet print head.
8. A printing device, comprising: a printing control unit; a print
head maintenance station, comprising a capper and a wiper; and a
driving module, comprising; a first rotating unit containing a
first profile; a second rotating unit containing a second profile;
a first supportive component coupled to the first rotating unit and
the capper for driving the capper according to the first profile of
the first rotating unit; a second supportive component coupled to
the second rotating unit and the wiper for driving the wiper
according to the second profile of the second rotating unit; a
motor; and a transfer module for selectively coupling the motor to
the first rotating unit, the second rotating unit or the print
control unit, wherein when the motor is coupled to the first
rotating unit and the second rotating unit, the motor drives the
first, and the second rotating units simultaneously to rotate
through the transfer module, and when the motor is coupled to the
print control unit, the motor drives the print control unit to
rotate through the transfer module.
9. The printing device of claim 8, wherein the printing device is
an ink jet printer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a driving module utilized
for driving a print head maintenance station, and more
particularly, to a driving module for driving a print head
maintenance station according to only a signal power source.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In part because of the high printing quality and the
reasonable price to the consumer, ink jet printers have become one
of the most popular pieces of print equipment in the market. In
order to continue to conform to the high quality performance
expectations of the users, the common ink jet printer usually
includes a print head maintenance station to clean and maintain the
print head. The print head maintenance therefore prevents from the
ink from being clogged in the print head and makes sure the print
head can be operated correctly with high quality.
[0005] Generally, the main components of the print head maintenance
station are a wiper and a capper. The primary function of the wiper
is utilized to scrape the ink residue from the print head while the
primary function of the capper is utilized for covering the print
head, when the print head moves back to its original position, to
prevent the ink residue dry on the print head from clogging the
nozzle of the print head. Normally, during the print process, the
print head maintenance station will utilize the wiper and the
capper move respectively to the print head to achieve the purpose
of clean and maintenance of the print head. In the conventional
print head maintenance station, the power sources (e.g., a motor)
of the wiper and capper are separated. That is, when the
conventional print head maintenance station performs the operation
of cleaning the print head, two motors are needed to drive the
wiper and the capper respectively. Moreover, the print head
maintenance station further includes other components, such as the
scraper and the pump, therefore the print head maintenance station
needs more power sources (e.g., more motors) to drive all of the
components. This manner not only increases the design cost of the
ink jet printer and the power consumption, but also causes the
waste of valuable space because of the need for these additional
motors. That is, the ink jet printer in the prior art does not
conform to the trend of space minimization, high efficiency, and
low cost that is in high demand by today's modern society.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an objective of the claimed invention to
provide a driving module for driving a print head maintenance
station according to only a signal power source, to solve the
above-mentioned problems.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
driving module for driving a print head maintenance station is
disclosed. The print head maintenance station includes a capper and
a wiper. The driving module comprises a first rotating unit, a
second rotating unit, a first supportive component, a second
supportive component, a transfer module and a motor. The first
rotating unit contains a first profile; the second rotating unit
contains a second profile; the first supportive component is
coupled to the first rotating unit and the capper for driving the
capper according to the first profile of the first rotating unit;
the second supportive component is coupled to the second rotating
unit and the wiper for driving the wiper according to the second
profile of the second rotating unit; the transfer module is coupled
to the first, and second rotating unit; and the motor is coupled to
the transfer module for providing a single power source to drive
the first, and second rotating unit simultaneously to rotate
through the transfer module.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
printing device is disclosed. The printing device includes a
printing control unit; a print head maintenance station; and a
driving module.
[0009] The print head maintenance station comprises a capper and a
wiper. The driving module comprises; a first rotating unit
containing a first profile; a second rotating unit containing a
second profile; a first supportive component coupled to the first
rotating unit and the capper for driving the capper according to
the first profile of the first rotating unit; a second supportive
component coupled to the second rotating unit and the wiper for
driving the wiper according to the second profile of the second
rotating unit; a motor; and a transfer module for selectively
coupling the motor to the first rotating unit, the second rotating
unit or the print control unit, wherein when the motor is coupled
to the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit, the motor
drives the first, and second rotating unit simultaneously to rotate
through the transfer module, and when the motor is coupled to the
print control unit, the motor drives the print control unit to
rotate through the transfer module.
[0010] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of the driving module according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving
module shown in FIG. 1 driving the print head maintenance station
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of an embodiment of the cam shown in FIG. 1 of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of a first embodiment of the cam shown in FIG. 1 of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of a second embodiment of the cam shown in FIG. 1 of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving
module shown in FIG. 1 in a first situation of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving
module shown in FIG. 1 in a second situation of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving
module shown in FIG. 1 in a third situation of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of the driving module according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of the driving module according to a third embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled
in the art will appreciate, consumer electronic equipment
manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This
document does not intend to distinguish between components that
differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in
the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an
open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean
"including, but not limited to . . . " The terms "couple" and
"couples" are intended to mean either an indirect or a direct
electrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second
device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or
through an indirect connection via other devices.
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 is a diagram
illustrating the three dimensional structure of the driving module
100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving module 100 shown
in FIG. 1 driving the print head maintenance station 200 of the
present invention. The driving module 100 includes a transfer
module 120, a plurality of cams 130 and 140, a plurality of levers
132 and 142, a plurality of supportive components 134 and 144, and
a fixed shaft 150. The transfer module 120 includes a gear set 122,
a shaft 124, and a print head maintenance station 200. In this
embodiment, the print head maintenance station 200 is applied as a
maintenance device of an inkjet print head. The print head
maintenance station 200 includes a capper 230 and a wiper 240.
Moreover, the combination set of the lever 132, 142 and the
supportive component 134, 144 is functioned as a connection module
for driving the capper 230 and the wiper 240. As shown in FIG. 1,
the motor 101 provides the required power source of the driving
module 100 according to a specific rotation direction (e.g., a
clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction). Then the gear set 122
of the transfer module 120 drives the power source provided by the
motor 101 into the shaft 124. Next, the cams 130 and 140, which are
fixed on the shaft 124, rotate according to the rotating direction
of the shaft 124. Additionally, the levers 132 and 142 are coupled
to the cams 130 and 140 respectively, and perform the vertical or
horizontal motion according to the profiles of the cams 130 and 140
respectively. The detail operation of the levers 132 and 142 will
be address later in the present disclosure. Next, according to the
displacement of the levers 132 and 142, the supportive components
134 and 144 then drive the capper 230 and the wiper 240
respectively, which are fixed on the supportive components 134 and
144, to perform the vertical or horizontal motion, and further to
achieve the purpose of cleaning and protecting the print head
301.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the capper 230 and the wiper 240 are
moved up or down respectively according to the driving of the
supportive components 134 and 144. Please note that, the wiper 240
and the capper 230 of the print head maintenance station 200 are
moved separated and usually not simultaneously when perform the
cleaning operation. For example, when the wiper 240 is moved up to
touch the print head 301 (i.e., the high position L1 in FIG. 2) to
clean the print head 301, it is not necessary for the capper 230 to
move up or down; otherwise, when the print head is in a stopped
situation (e.g., turned off condition), the capper 230 then can be
moved up to touch the print head 301 (i.e., the high position L1 in
FIG. 2) to protect the print head 301, and at this time the wiper
240 should move away the print head (i.e., the low position L2 in
FIG. 2) to make the print head 301 move to the upper position of
the capper 230. Note how these operations are conveniently
executed. Therefore, in the present invention, the driving module
100 utilizes the different curvature radius of the profiles of the
cams 130 and 140 to drive the cappers 230 and 240 to complete the
different operations as described herein. That is, this embodiment
in the present invention can control the capper 230 and wiper 240
to move up or down according to the design of the curvature radius
of the profiles of the cams 130 and 140. Therefore, according to
the proper design of the profiles of the cams 130 and 140, the
moving timing of the cappers 230 and wiper 240 can be decided
(i.e., defined as required by the needs at hand).
[0024] Please refer to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 at the same time.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional structure of
an embodiment of the cam 130 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram
illustrating the three dimensional structure of a first embodiment
of the cam 140 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating
the three dimensional structure of a second embodiment of the cam
140 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the
cams 130 or 140 have different profile designs (e.g., A1 and A2
shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) according to what device to drive. In
the present invention, the profiles of the cams 130 and 140 are
designed according to the capper 230 and the wiper 240 of the print
head maintenance station 200. In the present invention, to drive
the supportive components 134 and 144 on the levers 132 and 142 to
move up or down the levers 132 and 142 will change the distance
between the canter of shaft 124 and levers 132 or 142 according to
the different profiles of the cams 130 and 140. That is, the capper
230 and the wiper 240, which are fixed on the supportive components
134 and 144 respectively, then can perform the different cleaning
operations according to the different profiles of the cams 130 and
140. For the cam 140, the profile A2 is set on the radius direction
surface of the cam 140; and a protruding part B1 or a concave part
B2 is set on the shaft direction surface of the cam 140. Therefore,
when the end of the lever 142 which is moved on the profile A2 is
touched to the protrude part B1 (as shown in FIG. 4) or the concave
part B2 (as shown in FIG. 5) of the cam 140, the lever 142 can be
moved in the horizon direction to drive the wiper 240 to move left
or to move right.
[0025] For a more detailed description of the operation of the cams
130 and 140, please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram
illustrating the driving module 100 shown in FIG. 1 in a first
situation. Assuming that the capper 230 is located in a high
position L1 and the wiper 240 is located in a low position L2
during a specific timing (e.g., in the turning off situation), then
the motor 101 drives the shaft 124 to rotate at a specific rotating
angle (e.g., zero degree). At this time the touch position of the
lever 132 and the cams 130 is different from the touch position of
the lever 142 and the cam 132. As shown in FIG. 6, the distance
between the bottom of the lever 132 and the shaft 124 is larger
than the distance between the bottom of the lever 142 and the shaft
124. In this situation, the supportive component 134 is moved up
and thereby drives the capper 230 to move up to the high position
L1 to cover the print head 301. Additionally, please refer to FIG.
7. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the driving module
100 shown in FIG. 1 in a second situation. Assuming that the wiper
240 is located in a high position L1 and the capper 230 is located
in a low position L2 during a specific timing (e.g., perhaps in a
cleaning situation), then the motor 101 drives the shaft 124 to
rotate at a specific rotating angle (e.g., 75 degrees). At this
time the touch position of the lever 132 and the cams 130 is
different from the touch position of the lever 142 and the cam 132.
As shown in FIG. 7, the distance between the bottom of the lever
142 and the shaft 124 is larger than the distance between the
bottom of the lever 132 and the shaft 124. In this situation, the
supportive component 144 is moved up and thereby drives the wiper
240 to move up to the high position L1. Meanwhile, as mentioned
above, the cam 140 has a protruding part B1 or a concave part B2.
Therefore, when the wiper 240 is touched by the print head 301, the
continuous rotating of the cam 140 makes the lever 142 touch the
protrude part B1 or the concave part B2 and then drive the wiper
240 to move left or to move right to clean the print head 301.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram
illustrating the driving module 100 shown in FIG. 1 in a third
situation. As shown in FIG. 8, assuming that the capper 230 and the
wiper 240 are both located at the low position L2 during a specific
timing (e.g., in printing situation), then the motor 101 drives the
shaft 124 to rotate at a specific rotating angle (e.g., 180
degrees). At this time the touch position of the lever 132 and the
cams 130 is the same as the touch position of the lever 142 and the
cam 132. That is, the distance between the bottom of the lever 142
and the shaft 124 is the same as the distance between the bottom of
the lever 132 and the shaft 124. In this situation, the supportive
components 134 and 142 are located at the same position (e.g., the
low position L2 shown in FIG. 8). Moreover, if the motor 101
continuously drives the shaft 124 to rotate a specific angle (e.g.,
270 degrees), then the capper 230 and the wiper 240 will go back to
the original position. Please note that, in the above description,
the capper 230 and the wiper 240 only move between the high
position L1 and the low position L2. However, the driving module in
the present invention is not limited in these two positions that
are offered here as an example only. For example, according to the
proper design of the profile of the cam 140, the wiper 240 can be
located at a starting position between the high position L1 and the
low position L2 during the situation of turning off (i.e., the
angle of the shaft 124 is zero degrees), then the wiper 240 can be
located at the high position L1 during the cleaning situation
(i.e., the angle of the shaft 124 is 75 degrees), and the wiper 240
can be located at the low position L2 during the printing situation
(i.e., the angle of the shaft 124 is 180 degrees). And when the
angle of the shaft 124 is rotating to 270 degrees, the wiper 240
then goes back to the starting position.
[0027] Additionally, the driving module in the present invention is
not limited by the number of cams utilized for the wiper and the
capper of the print head maintenance station. In other embodiments,
in order to conform to the format of some long type print head that
the wiper is located in the capper, the driving module in the
present invention can add the number of the cam according to the
different print head maintenance stations. Please refer to FIG. 9,
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional structure of
the driving module 500 according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the driving module 500
includes a transfer module 120, a plurality of cams 530a, 530b,
140, a plurality of levers 532a, 532b, 142, a plurality of
supportive components 534a, 534b, 144, and a fixed shaft 150. The
transfer module 120 includes a gear set 122 and a shaft 124. The
primary difference between the driving module 500 shown in FIG. 9
and the driving module 100 shown in FIG. 1 is that in the print
head maintenance station of the driving module 500, the wiper is
located inside the capper. Therefore, the driving module 500
utilizes two cams 530a and 530b, and two levers 532a and 532b to
drive the single capper. Please note that, in this embodiment the
cam 530a and the cam 530b are the same as those elements previously
disclosed earlier. Therefore, the driving module 500 can follow the
above-mentioned operation to drive the capper and wiper in the
print head maintenance station.
[0028] Moreover, the driving module in the present invention can
put the cams corresponding capper and wiper respectively in
different shafts according to the design requirements. Please refer
to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the three dimensional
structure of the driving module 500 according to a third embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, the driving module
700 includes a transfer module 120, a plurality of cams 130, 140, a
plurality of levers 132, 142, a plurality of supportive components
134, 144, and a fixed shaft 150. The transfer module 120 includes a
gear set 122 and a plurality of shafts 124 and 724. In this
embodiment, the driving module 700 further adds another shaft 724
on a gear of the gear set 122, and shifts the cam 140 to the shaft
720. Although the cam 130 and the cam 140 are located at different
shafts, the cams 130 and 140 are still driven by the same motor
101. That is, the above-mentioned operation also can be applied in
this embodiment to drive the capper and wiper in the print head
maintenance station. Please note that, the arrangement of the
shafts, the gears, and the cams in the driving module 700 is just
an example in the present invention disclosed herein, and are not
meant to be taken as limitations.
[0029] Additionally, the driving module in the present invention is
not limited to the number of devices in the print head maintenance
station as disclosed herein. In other embodiments, the print head
maintenance station may further include other maintenance
components, such as the scrape and the pump, and the driving module
in the present invention can add the cams corresponding to the
scrape or the pump to drive a plurality of maintenance components
according to the drive operation provide by the present invention,
and configurations obtaining the same objective also belong to the
claimed invention.
[0030] In contrast to the related art driving module of the print
head maintenance station, the driving module in the present
invention can drive all maintenance components in the print head
maintenance station according to a signal power source provide by a
single motor only. The driving module in the present invention
utilizes the cams and levers to drive different maintenance
components respectively, and does not need to add more power
sources. That is, the driving module in the present invention not
only reduces the setup cost, but also reduces the space consumption
of the print head maintenance station. Moreover, the driving module
in the present invention also can provide the additional power
source (e.g., the other rotating direction of the motor) so that
the entire performance of the printer is greatly improved.
[0031] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *